Advertising device.



W. 8. WHEELER. ADVERTISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-5,1914, I V

' Patenied June :29, E5315.

2 SHEETSQSHEET 1.

W. B. WHEELER.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

APPLlCATION man 1mm, 1914.

E i I Patenteai June 29,1915

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"PATENT @lc h ltlido WELLINGTON IB. WHEELER, GE LONG BEAQH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONEJ-ZAL TB 7 RALPH. S. GILIBKAN, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

motors.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed January 5, 1914. Serial No. 810,306.

To all '10,: 0/11, it may concern Be it known that I, W nLLIXG'mX Bi li i'nncnnn, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California. have invented new and useful Improvements in Advertising. evices, of which the following is a s ,ccincation.

This invention relates to an advertising device, and particularly pertains to an intermittently movable sign.

ll; the object of this invention to provide an advertising device in which advertisements carried on a ribbon may be displayed intermittently and successively on the sides oi a many-sided case.

A further object is to provide means for intermittently moving the advertising ribbon and for regulating the movement thereof A further object is to provide means for maintaining the advertising ribbon taut while winding from one reel to another to compensate for the differential (llan'ictcrs of the reels caused by the ribbon winding and unwinding thereon.

Another object is to provide means for automatically reversing the direction of movement ol" the advertisingribbon when it becomes "fully unwound from the reel.

Tlhoinvonlion primarily resides in a case having a plurality of sides, a pair of reels revolubly mounted within the case, an advertising ribbon arranged to be wound. from one recite the other and directed across the faces of the case, means for intermittently rotating the reels in. synchronisin controlled I by the ribbon and in urns for reversing the lircction of rotation of the reels when the ribbon is-i'unwound from either of the reels controlled by the ribbon and one of the reels.

The invention. is illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, in which: I

l igure 1 is a plan view of the advertising case with the top removed and portions broken away. i on the line of Fig. l. as seen in the direction indicated by the. arrows. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective oi"; the advertising ribbon showing the sectional construction of the same. Fig. l is a perspective view of the case. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the electromechanical nieclninisni, lor operating the advertising ribbon. Fig. 6 is a a "crtical section detail plan view of the timing device. Fig. T is a. section on the line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective of the circuit breaker controlled by the ribbon for auto inatieally stopping the movement thereof. 9 a detail in perspective of the reel controlled switch.

More specifically, 9 indicates the case of the advertising device which is here shown as four sided with display openings 10 on each side. Mounted in suitable bearings within the case 9 is a pair of vertically disposed .rcols 11 and 12, which reels are turn able in relation to shafts l3 and 14 extending longitudinally therethrough, and which shafts are connected to the reels 11 and 12 by means of coiled springs 15 and 16 wound in opposite directions and opposed to each other.. Thesprings 15 and 16 form a yieldable connection between the reels 11 and 12 and the shafts 13 and 1-1l so that when the latter are rotated the reels will revolve therewith and are provided for the purpose of maintaining a ribbon wound on the reels in a taut condition.

The shafts l3 and 1-1 are geared together to rotate in synchronism by means of a sprocket chain 17 which passes around sprocket wheels 18 and 19 on the shafts l3 and 14. Mounted on the lower ends of the shafts 13 and 14 are worm gears 20 and 21 which are disposed on the same plane and are spaced apart. Extending between the adjacent edges oi the worm gears .20 and 321 is a worm pinion on a drive shaft 23 of an electric motor 24 which Worm pinion is adapted to be moved into engagement with either of the worm gears 20 and 21, or disposed intermediate thereof as will be later described.

The motor 24 is pivoted at 25 on a suitable base 26 and is normally maintained in such position that the worm wheel 22 will be out ofniesh with the gears 20 and 21. by means of opposed centralizing springs 27 andQS connected to opposite sides of an arm 29 on the motor 2-1- and attached at their outer ends to rigid members 99.

Connecled to the reels 11 and 12 is a sec tional ribbon 30, which passes from the reels around guide rollers 31 and 82 arranged adjacent one corner of the case; thence around direct-ion rollers 33, 3 1; and arranged in the other corners of the case, in such main nor as to dispose the ribbon 30 across the four sides of the cas ,as particularly shown the width or": the ribbon 30 and are formed of an electrical conducting material: insu lated from the ribbon. to form an electrical connection between contact plates 37 and 38 on-=the direction roller The plates 87 and 38 surround the roller and are separated from each other by means of an insulating material Slidably engaging the contact members 37 and 38 are wiper contacts L0 and -11 connected to electric conductors and 413, respectively. The conductor l?- leads to and connects with a fixed con tact" member llon a timing rocker-bar pivoted intermediate its ends at 40 on a su table support -i7 asshown in Fig. 7. The conductor 4-3 connects with one terminal of a solenoid magnet i8, the other terminal of which connects to a conductor l9 leading to the terminal of a second electro-magnet 50,

the other terminal of which connects to the conductor 51 leading to a fixed contact member 52 on the end of the rocker-bar i5 opposite the contact nnanber le.

Mounted on the rocherbar to recipro cate longitudinally thereon is a rack 53, the ends of which terminate adjacent the contact members 44: and 52 and carry knife contact'members 54 and 55 adapted to alternately move in and out oli connection with the contact members ll. and 52 when the rack 53 is reciprocated, as will be later described. The rack 53 is formed of a snitable conducting material and is connected through a conductor 56 leading from a conductor 57 connected with one terminal of a suitable. source oi electric supply 58, the other terminal o'l' which connects with a. con-- ductor 55) leading to the conductor l9 connee-ting the magnets 48 and 50.

The solenoid niragncts 4S and 50 are provided for the purp se of actuating the rocltccbar l5 murco iperatc with the latter to control the operation oi. a pair of solenoid magnets (3) (31 tor swinging the motor 24 on its pivot in"), tho rocker-bar 4'5 constituting an element of a timing device coopcratii'ig nith the contact member l'm'med by the clips 36 to energize and ilci'aie gixe the magnets l3 and 50 at prcdetermincd regular intervals of time. Cores -48 and 50 of the magnets it; and 50 are pirotally connected to the roclccnbar -l-S'on opposite sides.

of its pi v'OlTtll mounting 46. The magnets (30 and h'l m arranged to actuate a single core 62 pivoted to the outer end of the arm 29 connected to the motor 24 ahd energized singly at intermittent periods through the operation of the timing device, as will be later described.

The circuit controlling the magnets 60 and 61 comprises a conductor 63 connecting with one terminal of each of the magnets 00 and 61 and leading to a contact member 64 adjacent the rocker-liar 45, which contact member is adapted to be electrically connected to a contact member 6.1 on the main conductor 57; and conductors 66 and 67 leading from the other terminals of the magnets 60 and G1 connecting with contact members 68 and 69 adapted to be separately connected. by aswitch 70 to a conductor 71 leading to and connecting with the other main conductor 59. The contact members 64 and are adapted to be connected to diaccording to the posit on of the switch member 70, these members 64; and 65 being connected by means of a wiper contact arm 72 carried bythe rocker-bar 45 centrally thereof and insulated therefrom; when the rocker-bar 45 is inclined in one direction as shown in Fig. 5. When the rocker bar 45 is inclined in the opposite direction the wiper arm 72 connects contact members 73 and 74- to direct current through a lighting, circuit.

The lighting circuitcomprises a conductor leading from the conductor 57 to the contact member 74-, and a conductor 75 leading from the contact member 73 to lamps '76 electrically connected through the main conductor 59 to a conductor 77.

The motor 2t is designed to be operated continuously when the device is in. use; the current for the operation thereof bein supplied thereto through conductors 7S and 79 connecting with the main conductors57 and 59.

The timing device, before referred to, includes the rocker-arm 453 which is formed with a sinuous channel 80 in which a hall 81 travels when the rocker-bar is inclined the ends of the sinuous channel tern'iii'uiting in slraigl'lt channels 82 and 83 leading to pockets 8i and 85 carried on the ends of the slidablc rack 53 and guided in the ends of the channels 813 and S The slidable rack 53 is in the term of a rectangular frame which is supppmted in channels 86 formed in the upper face of the rocker-bar l5 and trim tionally engaged, by the latter to prevent too free movement. The top of the rocker-bar .45 is covered with a transparent plate 87 to particularly shown in Fig. 9, and includes an anm 88 carried on a rock sh aft 89 formed with a crank 90 onwhich a roller 91 is mounted and caused to bear against the reel 11 01: ribbon thereon by means of a spring 92 connected at one end to a portion of the case and at the other to the arm 88.

The switch member 70 is pivoted at 93 on the outer end of the arm 88 and has a spring 9% connected thereto to exerta normal downward pressure on its outer end. The contact members (38 and 69 are in the form of superposed plates suitably spaced apart. The switch member 70.is designed to be maintained in connection with the contact member 68 when the arm 88 is moved in one direction and be in connection with the contact member 69 when the arm 88 is moved in the opposite. direction; the switch .70 moving from the contact member 68 to the contact member 89 under and over a hinged directing gate forming part of the eontactimamber 69 which is electrically connected at its lower end to a plate 96 on a plane with the contact plate 68 and insulated therefrom by insulation 97.

4 The contact plate 69 terminates at such point that the switch member '70 will ride over its end and drop on the contact plateopposition to the spring 2, the switch 7O beingin connection with the contact member 68 so as to electrically connect the conductor 71 to the conductor 66 leading from the magnet which will be energized by the current from the unain conductor 57 through the contact member 65, switch arm 2, contact member 34 and conductor 53. the rocker-bar 15 being previously positioned to dispose the switch arm 72 in connection with the contact numbers 64 and (55. gizing oi the magnet 0 operates on the core 62 to rock the motor 24; through the arm 29 in opposition to sprmg'28 to move the worm pinion 22 into mesh With the worm gear'Ql connected to the reel 12- through the shaft 14 to wind the ribbon 30 thereon and unwind it from the recl'll the reel. 11 being rotated in synchronism w th the reel 12 through the sprocket chain 17. The s rings 15 and 16, being o positely wound and tcnsioned to ert a pressure greater than the resistance oll'cred by the movement of the ribbon, will operate to maintain the ribbon taut as it passes from one reel to the other, thereby compensating for the varying dian'ieters of The ener-' engagement with the worm wheel 21 which corresponds with the length of duration of the energizing of the magnet. 60. The length of time that the magnet 60 is energized is proportionate to the length of the display opening 10 in the case 9, being such that the length or section of ribbon displayed through one of the display openings on one side of the case w'll be moved into position rearward of the display opening on the adjacent side of the case before the magnet 60 becomes deenergizcd to cause the sprin :28 to restore the motor Ql and the worm pinion 22 to their norn'ialcentral positions. This deenergizing of the magnet (i0 is accomplished by the conducting, clip 36 on oneoil the ribbon sections moving into contact with the contact members 37 and 38 on the direction roller to complete a circuit to electrically connect the conductors d? and 43 through the wipers l0 and 41, thereby energizing the magnet 48;the contact members 44- and 5% being previously connected to permita flow of current from the main line conductor .37

through the conductors 42 and 43 and magnet 48.

lhe energizing of the magnet d8 will operate on the core 48' thereof to more the latter longitudinally and thereby rock the rocker-bar 45 in such position to move the switch arm 72 out of connection with the contact members (351' audit") and into engagement with the contact members 73 and 71-, thereby breaking' the rircuit to the magnet (30 and completing a circuit through the lights? to illuminate the interior or the case back of the {l(l\l'= sin; ribbon.

The dciinergizing of the magnet 50 releases the core 62 and permits the spring 28' to rock the motor 24 and throw the worm pinion 22 out of mesh with the worm gear 21 and thereby stop the. rotation oi the reels and the immanent ol the ribbon, in which posit on they will remain until the magnet (it) is again energized which will be the length of time controlled by the ball 81, which will start to travel down the sinuous channel 80 when the rocker bar 45 is tilted by the energizing of the magnet 48. The ball hi on leaving the sinuous channel 80 will enter the straight channel 83 where nim'ement will be accelerated so that it will strihothc cup 85 with sullicieut impact to" JI'IUY'G the rack 53 longg illidinally and thereby disconnect the contact members i l and [54- to break the circuit to the u'iag'uct 48, and connect the contact uuui'zbors 511 and 55 to complete a circuit from the main conductor 57,

through rack 53, contacts 55 and 52, conductor 51 and magnet 50. The magnet 50 will thus be energized to actuate its core 50 to rock the rocker bar ldand restore the switch contact 72 thereon into connection with the contact members (3-1 and 65, thereby re'nergizing the magnet 60 which will operate, as before describ d, to cause the rotation of the reel l2.

The rocking of the rocker-arm by the magnet will cut out the light circuit and cause the ball 80 to re-travcrse the channel 80 into the straight channel where it will gravitate against the pocket 84b to shift the 1'ection roll 33 the magnet 4.8 will be l ner rack 53 and move the contact member 5&- into engagement with the contact 4-4; and separate the contact members 52 and 55, thereby dei nergixing the magnet 50 and electrically connecting the conductors i2 and 57 so that when the conducting clip 36 on the next section of the ribbon engages the digizcd, as befor described. As a, 1116311: for cushioning the operation of the rocker-bar t5 the cores i8 and 50" and are made in the form of plungcrs which extend into ditfhpots lOO and operate to prevent too rapidthe recesu 93 the arm 88 will be so positioned that the switch member 70 thereon \vlll be disposed adjacent the insulation 97 separating the contact members 8 and 69 so that when the roller 91 enters the recess 98 to cause an increased throw. of the arm 87 at this point the switch T0 will pass under the hinged gate 95 on to the plate 96. This will break the circuit to the magnet 60 from the conductor ?l and complete the circuit to the magnet 61 through theconductors 67 and 71 so that when the contact members 64 and are connected by the switch arm 72 the magnet (31 will be energized. to cause it to rock the motor 21 in opposition to the spring 27 and move the .vor'ni with'the worm gear 20 on the shaft 13 of the reel ll. This will reverse the direction. of rotation of lhe reels so that the ribbon 30 will wind from, the reel 12 onto the reel ll in the step by step fashion be'l ore described until the switch is restored into connection with the contact member 68. This is accomplished by the arm 88 which is moved in such direction by the increasing thicknesses of the ribbon 3O onthe roller 11 acting on the crank '0 and rock shaft 79 to cause the a-nvitch .n'ieniber 70 to travel up the hing d gate on to the contact member 69: the switch member 70 passing from the I end of vthe switch member (39 the moment the pinion into mesh ribbon 30 is fully wound on the reel 11, thus breaking the electrical connection to the magnet 61, and completing the electrical connection to the magnet 6(). By this construction of the contact plates GS and 69 and the switch member 70 the length of the rib bon 30 can be increased or diminished as desired; the length of the contact member (59 being adjusted accordingly so that the switch member 70 will leave its outer end the moment the ribbon 30 is fully wound on the reel 1]. 7

ram the foregoing it will be seen that the ribbon will be advanced step by step from' one reel to the other and when fully Wound on one reel its direction of movement Will be automatically reversed so that it Will be wound step by step on the other reel, thus displaying portions of the ribbon successivel y in the display openings on the various sides of the case; each section of the ribbon thus being exposed for a period of time on each side of the case.

Vihat I claim is:

1. In an advertising device, a pair ot reels, a ribbon mounted to be wound from one reel to the other, means for maintaining the ribbon taut between the reels, a motor adapted to be moved into rriving engagement with either of the reels and normally positioned out of engagement tl'ierewith, a timing device, and electrical means controlled by the timing device cooperating wit the ribbon for intermittently positiom lag themotor in driving connection with one oi." the reels.

In an advertising device, a pair ot' reels, a ribbon mounted to be wound from one recite the other, means tor maintaining the ribbon taut between the reels, a motor adapted to be moved into driving engagement with either of the reels and normally positioned out otengagement therewith, a

timing device, electrical means controlled by the timing device cooperating with the ribbon for intermittently positioning the motor iii-driving connection with one of the .reels, and electrical means controlled by the ribbon and one of the reels and coiiperating with the timing device, whereby the motor may be intermittently connected to the other of the reels to reverse the movement of the ribbon.

3. In an advertising device, a pair of reels, a ribbon mounted to bewound from one feel to the other, a motor adapted to be moved into driving engagement with either of the reels, spring means for normally positioning the motor out of engagement with the reels, a pair of magnets for engaging the motor with either of the reels, means controlled by one of the reels for directing the flow of electrical current to either one or the other of the magnets according to the direction of rotation of the lee lot

reels, and a timing device for directing can rent to the selected magnet lntern'nttently.

4-. In an advertising device, a pen of reels geared together, a ribbon mounted to .ing device cooperating with the ribbon for intermittently positioning the motor in driving connection with one of the reels.

In an advertising device, apeir of reels geared together, a ribbon mounted to be wound from one reel to the other, e ino- ;;or adopted to be moved into driving engagexnent with either of the reels, means for norinzilly positioning the motor one of en gngenient with the reels, 3 i device, electrical means controlled the tin 'ng de vice cooperating with the ribbon for interinit'tently positioning the motor in driving connection With one of the reels, and electrieel means controlled by the ribbon on one of the reels and cooperating with the timing device, whereby the motor will be interniin" tentiy connected with the other of the reels.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name dn-e 19th lay of December, 1913.

3V. 3. WHEELER.

fi i'tnesses MARIE Emmy, EDMUND A. STRAUSE, 

